Do It Yourself

Electrical fires in our homes claim the lives of 485 Americans each year and injure 2,305 more. Some of these fires are caused by electrical system failures and appliance defects, but many more are caused by the misuse and poor maintenance of electrical appliances, incorrectly installed wiring, and overloaded circuits and extension cords. Electricity is a basic part of residential life in the United States. It provides the energy for most powered items in a contemporary home, from lights to televisions.

What is a panel? The panel has several different aliases: breaker box, electric box, electric board, breaker board, service box...All of which describe the same thing. We refer to it as the "panel". Your panel, depending on when your home was built, can be in a...